2. Chapter Two

November 27, 1952

Harry tore a paper napkin with his fingers to keep him busy while he waited for Cas to arrive. Jazz softly made its way to Harry's ears from the jukebox as he glanced at the clock above the exit of the diner; 12:23. The waitress was beginning to get annoyed with Harry for stalling as much as he did.

"Just a few more minutes. He should be here soon," Harry said to the waitress--a woman in her possible early thirties with dark brown, curly hair--apologizing profoundly. She walked away with an irritated look. The door opened, the little bell above the door chiming as Cas slid into the seat across from Harry. He looked even more tired than he did last night. His eyes were still blood shot and the skin under his eyes looked purple and red.

"Sorry I'm late," Cas said, offering no explanation.

"S'all right, mate," Harry said, eyeing him warily. He didn't know what he wanted to tell Harry, but it must be important. Not wanting to receive this news on an empty stomach , Harry waved the waitress over.

"Can I have the House Burger with everything on it and onion rings? Also a strawberry lemonade," Harry handed his menu over to her and looked at Cas expectantly.

"What?"

"Order what you want."

Cas' jaw dropped and he scrambled for his menu, eyes skimming quickly over the words.

"Can I have a Bacon cheeseburger?" He asked uncertainly to our waitress, glancing quickly at Harry as if he'd tell him no; she nodded impatiently, writing it down in her notepad. When Harry was sure he wasn't going to order anything else, he took matters into his own hands.

"He would like chips, large, as well with a side of ranch and a Chocolate milkshake with extra whip cream,"

"Of course, anything else I can get you?" The waitress replied. He shook his head and offered a smile. Cas was looking at Harry with huge eyes while the waitress disappeared into the kitchen.

"You didn't have to order all of that for me," he said quietly, fiddling with the torn skin around his fingernails.

"I know. I'm feeling generous today," Harry laughed good-naturally.

Cas stayed unusually quiet until their food arrived. He perked up and stared hungrily at his burger, mouth practically watering. Harry watched him sadly, thinking this was probably the first proper meal he's had in days or even weeks, maybe.

"So what did you need to tell me?" Harry asked, glancing over his shoulder to make sure no one was in hearing distance. Cas picked up his burger with greedy hands, sinking his teeth into it with a groan of satisfaction.

"Hm? Oh yeah, I need to tell you something," he said around his food. "So you know those murders I told you about, right?"

"Yeah," Harry took a bite out of his own burger and reached for the bottle of ketchup.

"I heard they found another body this morning. Stuff behind a dumpster," Cas scrunched his nose, shoving multiple chips drenched in ranch into his mouth while taking a bite of his burger.

"Seriously?" Harry felt his jaw drop a little, but Cas shrugged.

"Just word on the street. Could just be rumours,"

"Maybe," Harry mumbled, unease twisting in his gut. The other boy was particularly unfazed as he was nearly three quarters done with his massive burger.

"But I did heard the body was found like the others," Cas said. Harry sipped at his strawberry lemonade quietly.

"Found how?"

"You know, all torn apart and gore-y," Cas shuddered. "I heard that the guy's heart and possibly other organs were missing. Just like the others."

"Okay, were do you even get this stuff from? Who?" Harry genuinely wanted to know. Cas smiled secretly, scarfing down the rest of his burger, and started picking at his chips.

"Because I've never heard of a human that gnaws on human flesh, rips their heart out, and manages to rip their head clean off their necks. Have you?"

Harry frowned deeply.

"They were decapitated?"

"Uh...yeah. Didn't I tell you?"

"No! You mentioned everything else but that."

"Oh, sorry. But anyway, it might not be werewolves, but whatever is killing these people? It's not human."

Silence fell upon them once again; the only sound was the smacking of Cas' lips as he devoured his chips, licking the crumbs off his fingers. Harry pushed his burger towards him.

"You not gonna eat that?"

"Nah, you can have it," Harry said. Cas was so happy he looked like he was going to cry.

"Whoa, take it slow," Harry teased and Cas rolled his eyes.

"Shut the hell up. Do you know how hungry I am? I think I'm entitled to stuffing my face with free food."

Harry laughed and gulped down the rest of his strawberry lemonade while Cas continued to stuff his face. The waitress came back, asking if he would like a re-fill.

"Yes please, and can I get two slices of blueberry pie?"

"Sure thing," She strode off to get Harry more lemonade and the pie. Cas was just now slurping down his milkshake, looking after the waitress with his jaw hanging open comically.

"Blueberry pie?" He asked with certain giddiness in his tone. Harry smile mysteriously.

"Maybe."

The two boys waiting for their pie to arrive, Harry calmly looking out the window and Cas impatiently bouncing his knee up and down. The waitress came back with Harry's drink and two plates with a small slices of blueberry pie.

"I owe you, man," Cas said seriously, nearly snatching the dessert out of the girl's hands.

"No, you don't. And thank you," Harry added to the waitress. She nodded in response and wandered off, leaving the two boys alone. Cas was done before Harry even got his second bite, wiping his lips with his sleeve. He sipped the remainder of his melted milkshake and grabbed Harry's lemonade.

"Oh my god, that was the best fucking pie I've ever had," Cas moaned, slumping in the booth.

"Hell yeah it was," Harry agreed, laughing.

***

Harry stepped through the front door of the bar two hours later.

"Hey Sally. Is Ben around?" He asked, shoving his hands in his pockets to keep from fidgeting.

"Sure, in the back. Everything alright, love?" Sally asked, looking up at him from behind the bar, dish rag thrown over her shoulder. Harry forced a tight lipped smile and avoided her eyes.

"Peachy," he nodded in her direction as a sort of a farewell and slipped in the back door, following the short hallway all the way to the end. Ben's office was on the left. Harry knocked quickly three times.

"Who is it?" He heard Ben yell from behind the door. Harry rolled his eyes.

"Harry,"

"Come in!"

Harry opened the door and slipped in quietly, shutting it firmly behind him. Benjamin Moriarty was a man in his mid thirties, slicked back jet black hair, high cheekbones, bumpy skin, and eyes that looked so dark, they seemed black. Harry hated him. Ben sat up at the arrival of Harry and straightened his signature leather jacket, a wide smile on his face.

"Harry, my boy, how are you? Please, have a seat,"

"I'm fine. You?" Harry asked, reluctantly sitting down on the edge of the chair.

"Brilliant! So what can I do for you, Harry?"

"What can you tell me about the murders?" The curly headed boy wasted no time getting right to the point, not wanting to be here any longer than he had to be.

"What?" Clearly, Ben was taken aback, the pen he was holding nearly slipped through his fingers.

"The murders. Tell me about them. I heard the police is keeping things quiet,"

"How did you even hear about this?" Ben asked, eyebrows drawing to together.

"Doesn't matter. Tell me," Harry demanded a bit too harshly. He inhaled deeply through his nose, counting backwards from ten. It didn't help his temper in the slightest.

"Look, kid. I don't know what to tell you," Ben sighed, admitting his defeat. "There have been seven bodies found all over town. Women and men. They found a man this afternoon stuffed under a dumpster torn to shreds. Same with the others."

"People were terrified out of their wits at that time. Can you imagine if you let slip that another serial killer is on the loose, killing left and right? Total chaos. People will panic, you get me?"

"But if there is a killer out there, then shouldn't we warn people?" Harry asked, a hard edge to his voice. Ben sighed deeply.

"People should feel safe in this town. Not terrified to go out at night in fear of being snatched,"

"But that could happen! You said so yourself. There is a serial killer murdering people left and right! They've got to be warned so they can protect themselves," Harry's fingers were clutching the arm of the chair tightly, knuckles turning white and shaking with growing anger.

"Look Harry. It ain't my job to warn people. If you feel like you need to talk to the police about it, be my guest. But let me tell you, they sure as hell won't listen to an eighteen year old brat like you," Ben was getting angry as well, his face reddening with irritation. Harry was up in an instant, leaning on the desk with his hands, eyes narrowing dangerously.

"What did you just say?" He asked quietly, jaw locking defensively. Harry wanted nothing more than to punch the prick in his face, or maybe if he swung hard enough, he'd be able to break the bastard's nose.

"Don't take it personally," Ben said, leaning back in his chair with a stunned look on his face. "But it ain't your place to be nosing around and asking all sorts of questions you have no business knowing about. Let the police handle this, yeah?"

"Whatever. This was a waste of time," Harry muttered, pushing off the desk angrily.

"Your little friend came in here the other day, asking questions just like you. Told him what I told you,"

"If it ain't my place to be asking questions, then why'd you tell me? And him?" Harry was itching to place his hand on the door knob and walk right out.

"Because who are you going to blab off to?" Ben said smugly, raising an eyebrow. Harry stocked back over to his desk, slamming his hands on the surface, making Ben's breath hitch, but he didn't flinch.

"Look Ben, just because you've known me since I was born doesn't mean I like you. It doesn't give you some sort of right to try and step up to play the father role to me or my brother. And it certainly doesn't give you the right to talk to me like that," He spat, sending an icy glare to Ben.

"Good. Don't," Harry said lowly and pushed himself off the table and back toward the door, throwing a cool glance over his shoulder. "Have a nice day, Benjamin." And he slammed the door shut behind him, leaving Ben staring at the closed door in shock.

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This chapter is a bit longer than the first. I try to keep all my chapters as long as I can and sorry if this is boring. It's only the beginning